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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the presiding officer of the governing |
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body of a political subdivision to issue an order closing a business |
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in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 184.1086 is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.1086. BAN ON COVID-19-RELATED BUSINESS CLOSURES OR |
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LIMITATIONS. The governing body of a political subdivision or its |
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presiding officer shall not issue an order, enact an ordinance, or |
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take any other action having the force and effect of law that would |
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limit or prohibit any business activity or services in response to |
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the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an order issued on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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order issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by |
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the law in effect on the date the order was issued, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |